Buoyant electric cable



March 12, 1946.

F. H. GooDlNG ETAL 2,395,272

BUOYANT ELECTRIC CABLE Filed Feb. 2l 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f f/va 05am? PA YwaaD ATTRNEY .ders 2 each enclosed Patented Mar. 12, 1946 2,396,272 BUOYAN T ELECTRIC CABLE Francis H. Gooding,

Jr., Ridgewood, N.

son, N. J.,

Lodi, J., .assignors Callender Cable Company,

a corporation of New Jersey and Paul Louis Sipp,

to The Okonite- Incorporated, Pater- Application February 2, 1943, Serial No. 474,420

13 Claims.

I'his invention relates to buoyant electric cables, and has for an object to provide a cable of new and improved construction and wherein the weight to volume ratio of the cable is such that the cable will float in a medium such as sea water.

More specifically the present invention provides a buoyant electric cable wherein new and improved center members or cells` are employed which arev rugged in construction, highly resistant to crushing forces and wherein the danger of water entering the centers or of the centers becoming waterlogged is reduced to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated: f

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view oi another embodiment of different center or core construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of still another form of center or core member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of stili another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 'I is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view of still another center or cell member.

Referring to the drawings in detail and iirst Voi all to Figs. l and 2: It will be seen from the drawings that the cable of this embodiment of the intention comprises a plurality of hollow center or core members composed of plywood cylinin a pair of metal cups which fit closely over the cylinder and are welded, soldered or otherwise united with a sealed joint. In Fig. 1 we have shown the adjacent ends of the cups united with an overlap as seen at 6. The cups 4 are of light gauge metal which may be tin, copper or other suitable metal. It will be appreciated that such a center member or cell is watertight, not easily punctured and highly resistant to crushing. If desired the cells thus provided may be placed under an internal pressure of the order of 100 pounds per square inch gauge.

These -cells are arranged along the center of the cable with iiexible spacers 8 disposed between adjacent cells. These spacers have been shown as composed of cellular rubber in which case it is desirable to enclose each spacer in a gas-impervious skin I0. It is to be understood, however,

the invention showing athat other types of spacer might be employed, if desired. For example, the spacers could be in the form of inflated rubber cylinders. The function of the spacers is to space the core cells from each other and promote and maintain the flexibility of the cable.

As illustrated in the drawings, the wires or strands composing the cable conductor l2 are stranded immediately about the assembly of cells and spacers, and an outer water-impervious, nexible, non-metallic sheath I4, rubber, for example, is applied about the conductor.

l Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the center assembly-cells and spacersare enclosed in a sheath I6 of rubber or rubber-like material and `the conductor l2 stranded over this sheath, the whole being enclosed in the outer sheathV I4. In this construction, when the cable is will bond to the sheath watertight barrier at the periphery of each spacer against the passage of water along the interior of the cable in the event the cable is punctured.

Referringto the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4: The cable here illustrated comprises core members or cells, each consisting of a pair of plywood cylinders it and an intermediate transverse wood or plywood disc or brace 20. The outside diameter oi the disc 20 is the same as that of the cylinders i8 and the adjacent ends of the cylinders are sealed to this disc,-to provide a cylindrical member having a transverse partition or brace. Surrounding this assembly are a pair of metal cups d the adjacent ends of which are lap welded, soldered or otherwise united as shown at and as explained in connection with Fig., l. The union between the ends of the cups is at the disc 20, as shown in the drawings. The remainder of the cable construction is the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

This cable, it will be appreciated, has all of the advantages of the structures oi Figs. 1, 2 and 3, plus the additional strength provided by the disc 2li.

In Fig. 5 a center member or cell has been illustrated which may be substituted for those already described. This cell is the same as those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, except that the adjacent ends of the metal cups 4 are butt welded at 22 or soldered or otherwise united instead of being united with an overlap.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7: The center or core members of this embodiment of our invention are vulcanized, the spacers I6, so as to provide a or cell. The

I cable conductor l2 stranded to each other, which seals the shown in Fig. 6 except that eeen composed or two metal cups d the open endo of which ure overlapped es shown et und iveldfI ed, soldered er es to provide ermetically sealed core member instel of this cell may be steel, cope per or other suiteble material and it muy be plated, enameled or otherwise treuted to render highly resistent to corrosion.

The resistance to crushing of these cells is me= terolly increased by reinforcing or bracing with discs 2d or plywood or other suitable materie-l exe tending' transversely of the cell. These discs src e. snug fit ln the cupasheped members but eddi= tiorioily muy be cemented in piece if desired. One of these discs, as shown in the drawings, is preferably so positioned as to lie directly beneath the joint or seem ln addition to the discs 2li the interior of the cell is provided with longitudinally extending re:-

' inforcing tubes or bracestl. These braces may be solid or tubular and may be composed or ply Wood or other suitable materiel. As will be seen from the drawings they space the discs 2d from tile cell ends and from each other. With such o. construction, namely, en elongated cylindrical metal cell raced internally, both. transversely und longitudinally, en extremely strong construction is provided. if desired the cells muy be main toined internally under superetmospheric pres= I sure, still further increasing their resistance to crushing.

, The center or core cells extend lengthwise of tbe cable and intermediate adjacent cells ore spacers t. These'spacers are preierebly buoyont elastic members such as inilated rubber cyliizra ders, or cellular rubber discs, the letter bevind: been shown on' the drawings. When employing cellular rubber each spacer is preferably provided with a gas impervious skin l0.

The assembly of cells und spucersrnay be en= closed in a ilexible, rubber or rubber-like sheath i8, as illustrated, and the wires composing `the about this sheath. @ver the cable conductor l2 is a, non-metallic, exible, water-impervious sheath l@ of rubber or rubber-like material.

'I'he cable after assembly is subjected to vulcanization, and in this process the periphery of the spacers 8 and the sheath I@ become bonded cable against the passage of water along the interior of the same in the event the cable is punctured.

In Fig. 8 e further modified form of cell has been illustrated which is identical with that the open ends of the metal cups I abut each other, as shown vut 28, instead of being overlapped, and are welded, soldered or otherwise secured to each otherl to provide a hermetic seal. It will be understood that in all embodiments of our invention the weight to volume ratio of the cable is such as to enable the same to float in seu water.

It will be appreciated from all of the foregoing `that this invention provides e buoyant cable construction which is very will be appreciated, also.'

rugged und highly re sistant to crushing. It that the cells at the cable centerare readily hieru metically sealed, end that the likelihood or the cable becoming water-logged ls reduced to u mini mum even should the cable be punotured et sev eral places.

It is to be understood that cbunses moy made in the details of construction end errance nient of parts hereinabove described without dea herwise so secured to euch other o conductor scope ot the invention.

tic materiel inmrroediote odjucent cells, s, conductor stranded about the essembly of cells and spacers, end en n cristalino, ilexible. water-lmpervio lo einen li, i

c su .i

2. A buoyant electric cef conulrising in combination e. center or o plurality or cells, each composed of u plywood cylinder enclosed in metal to provide e liernieticelly sealed construction, spacers ci elostic materiel intermediate adjacent cells,- s rubber'shectli enclosing said assembly of cells end spacers, e conductor stranded about seid sheotb., und un outer. enclosing non-metallic, ilexible, waterimpervious sheeth, the weight to volume retio of the cable being such as to enable the ceble to doet in e. medium such as sea water.

3. A buoyent electric cable, comprising in combination e center of a plurality of cells, each composed of e. plywood provide e hermeticelly sealed construction, spacers of cellular rubber intermediate adjacent cells, s. rubber sheath about said assembly, s. conductor stranded about seid sheath, und o. rubber sheath uboot seid conductor, the weight to vol unie retio or the ceble being such as to enable the ceble to noot in e medium suoli as ses water..

4. A buoyant electric cable, comprising in combindt/ion a center of e plurality ol' cells, each com- 1 eble the cable posed of e plywood cylinder, euch enclosed in a pair of metol cups pushed over opposite ends of the plywood cylinder und having their adjacent edges welded to each other, spacers intermediate said cells, s conductor stranded about said cells and spacers, and an enclosing, non-metallic, water-impervious, exible sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the cable to floot in water.

5. A buoyant electric cable, comprising in combination a center of a plurality of cells, each composed of a plywood cylinder, each enclosed 1n a. pair of metalrcups pushed over opposite ends of the plywood cylinder land having theirl adjacent edges welded. to each other with an overlap, spacers intermediate said cells. a conductor stranded about said cells and spacers, and an enclosing non-metallic, water-impervious sheath,l

the plywood cylinder and having'their adjacent edges butt welded to each other, spacers intermediate said cells, e conductor stranded about said cells and spacers. and an enclosing non-metallic. water-impervious, flexible sheath. the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to enable the cable to float in Water.` y

7. A buoyant electric cable, comprising in combination a center oi' e plurality of cells, each composed of a noir of plywood cylinders spaced by a disc extending transversely of the cylinders and sealed to them both, motel cups pushed over the cuter ends or seid cylinders und having their ad lecent crises to coole other ut the periph-` ery or seid dise, e weee odiccent cells.

smal cells und cylinder enclosed in metal to spacers, a cable conductor sneath, and an outer enclosing,

enclosing lnon-metallic, water-imand an outer pervious sheath, the weight to volume ratio of the cable being such as to render the cable buoyant in water.

8. In a buoyant electric cable in which the weight to volume ratio is auch as to enable the same to iioat in amedium such as sea water, the combination of a plurality of center cells of metal each internally braced, resilient spacers between adjacent cells, a cable conductor stranded about the assembly of cylindrical members and spacers, and an outer enclosing, non-metallic, flexible water-impervious sheath. A

9. In a buoyant electric cable in which the weight to volume ratio is such as to enable the same to float in a medium such as sea water, the combination of a plurality of center celle of metal each internally braced, resilient spacers between adjacent cells, a water-imperviom, non-metallic, flexible sheath about the'aernbly oi cells and stranded about said non-metallic, `flexible, water-impervious sheath.

l0. In a buoyant electric cable iny which the weight to volume ratio is such as to enable the same to iioat in a medium auch as sea "water, the combination oi a plurality of hermetically sealed cylindrical metal members each braced internally and transversely by a plurality ci wooden discs extending across each member, and longitudinally by braces positioned between adiacent dises and between the discs and the ende oi the cylindrical member, spacers intermediate adjacent cylinders, a cable conductor stranded about the assembly of cylindrical members and spacers, and an outer enclosing non-metallic, ileidble, water-impervious sheath.

lll

A maintaining these last 11. In a buoyant electric cable in -'which the Y weight to volume ratio is such as 'to enable the cable to float in a medium auch as sea water, the combination of a plurality ci cells each cornprising metal cups having their open ends secured to each other to provide a hermetic seal, plywood bracing for each of said cells, said bracing comprising a plurality of plywood discs extending crosswise of the cell, Vand tubular members between adjacent discs and between the discs and 'the ends of the cell, spacers intermediate adjacent cells, a conductor stranded about the assembly oi cells and spacers, and an outer enclos- 'lng ilexible non-metallic, water impervious sheath.

l2. In a buoyant electric cable in which the Weight to volume ratio is such as to enable the cable to loat in a medium suolo. as sea Water, the combination of a plurality of cells each comprising metal cups having their open ends secured to each other with an overlap to provide a hermetic seal, plywood discs within each cell and entendlng transversely thereof, one of saiol discs lying directly beneath said overlap, tubes within each cell between adjacent discs and between the end discs and the ends of the cell, a conduct-or stranded about the cells and spacers. and an outer enclosing, exible, non-metallic, water-impervious sheath. v

13. In a buoyant electric cable in which the weight to volume ratio is auch as to enable the cable to float in a medium.A such es sea water, the combination oi a plurality of cells each comprising metal cups having their open ends abuttine and secured to each other so as to provide a hernietically sealed joint, a plywood disc within each cell extending across the same immediately beneath the said joint, a disc at each side of the first mentioned discs, tubular members mentioned dises in spec@ relation with respect to the rst mentioned disc and with respect to the ends of the cell, spacers between adjacent cells, a cable conductor stranded about the assembly of cells and spacers, and an outer enclosing. sheath of non-metallic, nexible, water-impervious material.

FRANCIS H. GOODING. PAUL LOUES SWP, ein. 

